Premier Bank Honored Among Nation’s Top Ten Organizations for Support

Premier Bank was nominated for the BCA 10: Best Companies in America Supporting the Arts award by Jordan DeGree, Executive Director of Matter Creative Center in Dubuque, Iowa. The BCA 10 honors ten businesses for their exceptional partnerships with the arts. DeGree’s nomination is based on the bank’s forward-thinking support of numerous arts and culture organizations and initiatives in our community. Premier Bank was notified of the nomination and was asked to complete a questionnaire to provide examples of support that show the bank’s exceptional commitment to the arts through grants, local partnerships, volunteer programs, matching gifts, sponsorships and board membership. All nominations were judged by a BCA 10 judging panel and Premier Bank was ultimately named an honoree. Following is the national release:

Americans for the Arts Announces the Business Committee for the Arts 2013 BCA 10 Honorees

Humana Chairman Michael McCallister to Receive BCA Leadership Award

All Awardees to be Honored on October 2nd at an Evening Gala in New York City

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, today announced those companies selected by the Business Committee for the Arts (BCA), a division of Americans for the Arts, as The BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America for 2013. In addition, Humana Chairman Michael McCallister will receive the 2013 BCA Leadership Award. The BCA 10 Awards and BCA Leadership Award will be presented by Americans for the Arts on October 2, 2013, at a black-tie gala at the Central Park Boathouse in New York City.

Every year, Americans for the Arts, through the BCA, recognizes ten U.S. companies for their exceptional commitment to the arts through grants, local partnerships, volunteer programs, matching gifts, sponsorships and board membership. The 2013 BCA 10 honorees are:

Aspen Skiing Company, Aspen, CO

Atlantic Salt, Inc., Staten Island, NY

Bacardi USA, Inc., Coral Gables, FL

M & T Bank, Buffalo, NY

Microsoft, Redmond, WA

PNC Bank, Pittsburgh, PA

Premier Bank, Dubuque, IA

Scholastic Inc., New York, NY

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Atlanta, GA

Yum! Brands Inc., Louisville, KY

“This year’s BCA 10 honorees recognize the value that the arts hold in workplaces, communities, and local economies. They are shining examples of how partnering with the arts can enrich the communities in which people live and work as well as cultural organizations, office cultures, and business performance,” said Robert Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Through their forward-thinking partnerships, community engagement and financial and in-kind support, these businesses are ensuring access to the arts for people across the country for years to come.”

Bill Kerr, Chairman of the Business Committee for the Arts Executive Board and former President and CEO of Arbitron Inc. shares a similar sentiment: “The inspiring commitment that this year’s BCA 10 honoree slate has shown to the arts is creating lasting effects not only on the quality of life and the economies of the communities in which they serve, but on the businesses themselves. Their exceptional level of partnerships with the arts sets a standard for others in the private sector to follow.”

Michael McCallister, BCA Leadership Award Recipient

The Leadership Award was established by the BCA in 1993 to recognize individuals whose vision, commitment, and leadership champion the arts. This year’s recipient is Michael McCallister, Humana CEO, Chairman and President. McCallister joined Humana in 1974 and has served as CEO since 2000. He has been a philanthropic leader in Louisville, KY, serving on the executive committee of the Greater Louisville Fund for the Arts as well as being the 2003 Campaign Chair. Under his leadership, Humana has consistently been the top local corporate donor to the Fund for the Arts and the company was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2006.

For information regarding the BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America, please contact Patrick O’Herron, Business Committee for the Arts Coordinator at (212) 223-2787or via e-mail at poherron@artsusa.org.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.